Coalition Steps Up Education on Water Rule

The Waters Advocacy Coalition, of which NAR is an active participant, has stepped up its educational activities on the issue of "Waters of the U.S." by hosting a Forum for congressional staff on Capitol Hill and hosting a separate webinar for interested individuals and organizations. The EPA has submitted proposed regulations for review by the White House Office of Management and Budget that would dramatically expand the reach of federal jurisdiction of waters of the U.S. EPA is expected to release this proposed rule in mid-2014.

Both educational activities featured Deidre Duncan, a lawyer and water law expert with the law firm of Hunton and Williams, who provided a legal analysis of the proposed rule and the negative economic impact the regulation would have on property owners nationwide; and Dr. Dave Sundig, an economics professor with U.C. Berkley, who provided a critique of the EPA's meager cost/benefit analysis conducted for the rulemaking.